Phlox plant named ‘Dophlearlapop’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant named ‘Dophlearlapop’, characterized by its upright and uniform plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; large light purple-colored flowers with reddish purple-colored centers; and good container and garden performance.

Botanical designation: Phlox paniculata.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOPHLEARLAPOP’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATION:

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Applicant/Assignee, Dümmen Group B.V. of De Lier, The Netherlands on Aug. 15, 2022, application number 2022/1927. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant, botanically known as Phlox paniculata and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dophlearlapop’.

The new Phlox plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to create new early and freely-flowering Phlox plants with attractive flower color.

The new Phlox plant originated from a cross-pollination in July, 2014 of a proprietary selection of Phlox paniculata identified as code number PA11-000024-001, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Phlox paniculata identified as code number PA09-000103-001, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Phlox plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands in July, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phlox plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled environment in Aalsmeer, The Netherlands since August, 2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Phlox plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Phlox have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Dophlearlapop’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dophlearlapop’ as a new and distinct Phlox plant:

-   -   1. Upright and uniform plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   5. Large light purple-colored flowers with reddish         purple-colored centers.     -   6. Good container and garden performance.

Plants of the new Phlox differ from plants of the female parent selection primarily in flower color as plants of the new Phlox have light purple-colored flowers with reddish purple-colored centers whereas plants of the female parent selection have red-colored flowers with pink-colored centers.

Plants of the new Phlox differ from plants of the male parent selection primarily in plant habit as plants of the new Phlox are more mounding and uniform in plant habit than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Phlox can be compared to plants of Phlox paniculata ‘Sweet Summer Ocean’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Phlox and ‘Sweet Summer Ocean’ differ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Phlox have smaller leaves than plants of         ‘Sweet Summer Ocean’.     -   2. Plants of the new Phlox flower earlier than plants of ‘Sweet         Summer Ocean’.     -   3. Plants of the new Phlox have smaller flowers than plants of         ‘Sweet Summer Ocean’.     -   4. Plants of the new Phlox have light purple-colored flowers         with reddish purple-colored centers whereas plants of ‘Sweet         Summer Ocean’ have bluish purple-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phlox plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Phlox plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 ) is a side perspective view of typical flowering plant of ‘Dophlearlapop’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 ) are close-up views of typical leaves, flower buds and flowers of ‘Dophlearlapop’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the late spring and early summer in 13-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Straelen, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial Phlox production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 21° C. and night temperatures averaged 15° C. Plants were pinched one time one week after planting rooted young plants and were 14 weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, Fifth Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Phlox paniculata ‘Dophlearlapop’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Phlox             paniculata identified as code number PA11-000024-001, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Phlox             paniculata identified as code number PA09-000103-001, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 16 days at             temperatures about 26° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About three weeks at             temperatures about 23° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 24 days             at temperatures about 23° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 18° C.         -   Root description.—Thick, fibrous; typically white in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,             substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial typically grown             as a container and garden plant; upright and uniform plant             habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 24 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—About 27 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Branching habit: Relatively freely             branching habit; about six primary branches each with about             twelve secondary branches developing per plant. Length:             About 18 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Internode length: About             2.8 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright to about 65° from             vertical. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.             Color, developing and developed: Close to 143A; at the             internodes, close to 187A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple; decussate.         -   Length.—About 6.7 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.8 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,             glabrous; semi-glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to N137B.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138A. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A; venation,             close to N137A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 138A; venation, close to N137D.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 2 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Strength: Strong; flexible. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color, upper             surface: Close to 187A. Color, lower surface: Close to 138A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single rotate and             salverform flowers arranged in compound terminal and lateral             panicles; flowers face mostly upright to slightly outwardly             depending on position on inflorescence; freely flowering             habit with about ten flowers per inflorescence and about             1,056 flowers developing per plant during the flowering             season.         -   Fragrance.—Slightly fragrant; sweet, pleasant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit; plants             begin flowering about ten weeks after planting; plants             flower in July in the garden in Germany and The Netherlands;             flowers persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Shape: Conical. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte.             Color: Close to N81A.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 10 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 12 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 3 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 9 mm.         -   Flower diameter, proximally.—About 3 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single             whorl; petals fused at the base into a narrow tube. Lobe             length: About 1 cm. Lobe width: About 9 mm. Lobe shape:             Obovate. Lobe apex: Rounded. Lobe margin: Entire, not             undulate. Lobe texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; matte. Throat texture and luster: Smooth,             glabrous; matte. Tube texture and luster: Pubescent; matte.             Color: Lobe, when opening, upper surface: Close to 85A;             towards the throat, close to N82A and N78A. Lobe, when             opening, lower surface: Close to N81A and N82B. Lobe, fully             opened, upper surface: Close to 77B; towards the throat,             close to N74A; venation, similar to lamina colors; colors do             not change with subsequent development. Lobe, fully opened,             lower surface: Close to N81B and N82B; venation, similar to             lamina colors; colors do not change with subsequent             development. Throat: Close to N74A; venation, close to N74A.             Tube: Close to N77B; venation, close to N77B.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single             whorl, fused towards the base; calyx, tubular. Length: About             9 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Subulate. Apex: Acuminate.             Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A. Fully opened, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 45° from lateral             branch axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.             Color: Close to 146A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm.             Strength: Weak. Aspect: About 45° from peduncle axis.             Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: Close             to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically             five. Filament length: About 1 mm. Filament color: Close to             N77B. Anther size: About 0.5 mm by 1 mm. Anther color: Close             to 162B. Pollen amount: None observed. Pistils: Quantity per             flower: One. Pistil length: About 1.5 cm. Stigma diameter:             About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Three-parted. Stigma color: Close             to 145A. Style length: About 1.1 cm. Style color: Close to             145A. Ovary color: Close to 143B.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Phlox. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Phlox have been observed to     have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about −30° C. to about 30° C. and to be     suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 9. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Phlox have     not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Phlox plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Phlox plant named ‘Dophlearlapop’ as illustrated and described. 